Can-filling apparatus.



P. JEFFERIES & W. SPAIN. CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

, APrLIoATIoII FILED rmms, 1911, I 1,079,495. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

' 1s SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. L. JEPPERIES 8L W. SPAIN. CAN BILLING APPARATUS.l APPLIGATIGN FILED 1111.23, 1911.

1,079,495. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED PEB.23,1911.

1,079,495, Patenea Nov. 25, 1913.

13 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

F. L. JBPPBRIES L W. SPAIN.

GAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.23,1911.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

13 SHEETS-SHBET 4.

ww www \\r F. L. JEFFERIES & W. SPAIN. CAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED rma. za, 1911, 1,079,495. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

1a SHEETS-MEET 5.

F. L. JEFFERIBS & W. SPAN. GAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED IEB. 23, 1911.

Patented NOV. 25, 1913.

v 13 SHEETS-SHEET a.

F. L. JEPFBRIBS & W. SPAIN. GAN FILLING APPARATUS.

A PPLIGATION FILED !E13.23,1911V Patented Nov.v 25, 1913.

13 SHEET S-SHEBT 7.

F. L. JEFFBRIES & W. SPAIN.

CAN HLLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED PEB.23,1911,

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

13 SHEETSSHEET 8.

NGN. NWQN.

F. L. JEFFERIES & W. SPAIN.

GAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED I`EB.23,1911y 1,079.495. Patented Nov. 25, 19413.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 9v F. L. JEFFBRIES & W. SPAIN.v

CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.23, 1911.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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CAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPLcATIoN FILED 113.23, 1911.

1,079,495. Patented 11011.25, 1913.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

F. L. JEPFERIBS L W. SPAIN.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLBD 2213.23, 1911.

Patented NOV. 25, 1913.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

P. L. JEPFBRIES & W. SPAIN. CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23,1911A 1,079,495 Patented N0v.25,1913. 13 SHEETSSHEET 13.

UNITED sTATEsAfrnNzr orricn.

FREDRICK LESTER J EFFERIES, OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, AND WILLIAM SPAIN, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO CORN PRODUCTS REFINING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

CAN-FILLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed February 28, 1911. Serial No. 610,291.

To all whom l5 may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDRICK L. J Erf-FER- lns and `W1LL1AM SrAli, citizens of the United States, residing at Granite City, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an apparatus for filling cans, or other similar vessels, and .the invention has for a primaryobject to provide an apparatus of new and improved construction which automatically introduces into the cans, or other vessels, quantities 0f liquid measured by weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling machine of such character and so organized that it will operate 'continuously on the vessels which itlls and to and from which the' cans, or other vessels, may be automatically and continuously fed and discharged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the empty cans are counterpoised before being filled so thaty any-difference that may exist in the weights of the cans will not affect the accurate measuivement by weight of the charges.

y A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which a partial filling by volume takes place first, after which the material is gradually 1introduced in sul-Iicient amounts to make up the exact quantity desired.

The invention has for further objects such other new and improved constructions, arrangements and devices in fillingmachines as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a machine embodying our invention, which has been designed particularly for filling tin cans with syrup; and in the following specification the machine will be described as put to this use. It will be obvious, however, that the apparatus in question might oe used for other purposes.

In the drawings ,Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the machine, Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. .1; Fig. 3, a detail in elevation of the dribble controlling roller; Fig. 4, a sectional plan taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. l5, a plan view of the machine as a whole; Fig. 6, a sectional plan takengon line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a fragmfita'ry vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8,'a sectional Iplan on line 8-8 of Fig. 2; F1 9,-a view, in perspective, of one of the krnfe edge blocks of the scale; Fig. 10,'a sectional plan taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 2; Fig. 11, a sectional elevation on line 1111of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 12, a sectional elevation on line 12--12 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a sectional plan taken on line 13--13 of Fig. 2; Fig. 14, a sectional view on line 14-14 of Fig. 8, 4looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.v15, a fragmentary sectional plan, on an enlarged scale, taken on line'15-15 of Fig. 2; Fig. 16, a detail, in prspective, of

.a part of the device for moving the can counterpoise; Fig. 17, an enlarged frag- .mentary sectional Ielevation taken on that part of line 2-2 of Fig. 1 between the arrows 17-17; Fig. 18, a fragmentary secitional plan taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 17; Fig. 19, a sectional view taken on line 19--19 of Fig. 17, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 20, a fragmentary sec- 'tional plan taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 17;

of Fig. 17, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 25, a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on llne 25-25 of Fig. 24, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 26, a sectional plan taken on line 26`26 of Fig. ,25; Fig. 27, a sectional plan .taken on line 27-27 of Fig. 25; Fig. 28,

a sectional 'View taken on line 28-28 of Fig. 2 hacking in 1 .iin-lira ofthe r rows; i* f l' if). a plan 1 un line 25)--29 of Fig. inf. 5G. :l 1 ntary view, 1n

v Y perspective, of the bearing un the volume measuring vessel shown in Figs-2li to 28 inclusive; Fig. 31, a view, in perspective, of the scale beam; Fig. 32, a vie-.1', in elevation, of one of the scale pans; Fig. 33, a View, .in perspective, of the cam controlling the liquid counterpoise, and Fig. 84, a similar view of the fork for raising the weight scale pan and depressing the can scale pan.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Generally speaking, the machine, in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings herein, may be said to consist of a sta' tionary element or supporting frame work; a rotary frame work or driven element `rigid on a central shaft, which latter frame work carries the cans While being filled and likewise a syrup receptacle from which the cans are filled; alplurality of scales one for each can; mechanism for counterbalancing the empty cans Whenthey are first received into the machine before the filling operation commences; volume measuring vessels which discharge'into the cans approximately uniform quantities of syrup measured by volume; mechanism for placing on the scales, at the proper time, counterpoises for determining, by weight, the amounts of syrup which the cans are eventually to receive, and for 'removing said counterpoises when the Weighing operation is completed; valve mechanism which opens dribble ports in the filling tank through which syrup is introduced into the cans in relatively small streams, and which closes said ports when the cans balance; mechanism for automatically feeding the cans into and discharging them when filled from the machine; and certain shutoff devices which can be used in cases of emergency-to prevent thewaste of the syrup.

lVhile all of the sets of instrumentalities above enumerated are preferably employed in combination, it will be obvious that al machine might be constructed, having some utility, inwhich some of the above mentioned mechanisms should be omitted; and likewise,-that instead of using all of the sets of mechanisms as shown, different mechanisms vperforming substantially the same operations 'might be substituted for some of those which we herein show and describe. While the apparatus is designed particularly for handling liquids, certain of the sets of instrumentalit-ies making up the machine in its preferred form might perhaps be useful in apparatus operating upon dry material.

The 'several sets of mechanisms shown in the drawings will now be described in substantially the order above given. It may be noted that While a complete machine contemv plates a considerable number of units in substantially radial arrangement around the central shaft-of the machine, the umts operating successively and being arranged close enough together so that the cans to be filled may be fed one after another at. very short intervals into the machine, for the purpose of clcarness of illustration the drawings have been made to show only two of said units, these two being in diametrical arrangement, certain ofl the figures, however, indicating the intervening units.

The stationary and lrotating frames.50 designates an annular base supporting the uprights 51 which carry the circular table 52 (Figs. 1 and 2),. On this table are the uprights supporting a ring 54. The central shaft 55 of the machine turns at its lower end in a bearing 56, formed in a transverse base. member 57 (Fig. 13), and farther up in the hub 58 seated in the boss 59'formed on the table 52. Shaft 55 carries a worm wheel 60 meshed by a worm 61 carried on a shaft 62 mounted in bearings 63 secured to one pair of the uprights 51. Shaft 62 carries thev fast and loose pulleys 64, 65. Keyed to the upper end of shaft 55 is a hollow cylindrical member or druln 66 on tf e. internal hub of Which 67, rests a tank o'r vessel 68 which is designed to receive the syrup with which the cans are to be filled. The syrup may be fed into the receiving tank 68 in any desired manner. No.`

particular means is shown. Rigidly secured to the lower end of drum 66 is a circular plate or table 69 on the rabbeted perimeter of which is supported the annular dish-like member 70. In rabbets inthe edges of member 70 is seated a ring 71 (Figs. 14 and 17) having at its inner edge the upstanding flange 72. The ring is formed with a. series of circular openings 73 covered by rforated lates 74. The cans, when fed into the mac ine, aredesigned to stand on the plates 74. Secured to the 'drum 66 above table 69 is a circular plate 75 carrying, seated in a rabbetat its circumference a ring 76 which forms the bottom of the annular filling tank 77. Tank 77 is connecte'd with tank 68 by the pipes 78 which extend through openings in drum 66 and plate 75.

The scaZes.-The scale beam'79 (F ig. 31) is mounted on a stud 80 (Fig. 17) on plate 69. The bifurcated ends of the beam are provided With the notched blocks 81, 81, 81, 81a and with guide plates 82, 82, 82, 82. There are similar notched blocks 8lc and guide plates 82c in reverse position at the center of the beam on opposite sides of the central opening 83. In a recess in the top of stud 80 is a block 84c being formed on its upper isurface with the two knife edges 85 (Fig. 9) spaced apartl so as to support the notched blocks 81. p

86 designates one of the scale pans (Figs. 17, 24 and 32) provided on its under side with the knife edge block 84, such as that shown in Fig. 9, the knives of which 85, 85, bear upon notched blocks 81, 81 at one end of scale beam 79. These, parts are prefer ably shielded by the flange 87 having an opening 88 for the scale beam. Scale pan 86 is formed with the upstanding prongs 89 which extend through the perforations 90 in the circular plate 74. The can, designated A in the drawings, is supported 011 these prongs during 'theweighing operations. The weightI pan 91 is provided on its under surface with the knife edge block 84a, similar to that shown in Fig. 9, the knives of which bear upon the notched blocks 81a, 81a. A set screw 92 aords a rest for this end of the scale beam so as to prevent it from going down too far.

The 'mechanism for holding the scale out of opefaz'on md for releasing the sama- Bolted to plate (39 are the brackets 93 which support a ring 9-1 (Figs. 8 and 17). Ring 94 is perforated for the pair of rods 95, the threaded ends 'of which, 96, extend through and are secured to the cap piece 97 by the nuts 98. The lower ends of rods 95 are seated in a base 99 carrying on its under side the rolller 100 adapted to travel on the circular cam 101 (Fig. 38). A forked member 102 (Fig. 34) is formed with the perforations 103 to receive the rods 95 and is formed on one edge with the taps 104 for set screws 105 (F ig. 17) by means of which it. may be adjustably secured to rods 95. The adjustment of this device is such that it engages with the end of the scale beam 79 'carrying the weight. pan 91 When roller 100 is at the high portion of the cam L -b (Figs. 22 and 33) so as to tilt scale beam 79 sufficiently to depress prongs 89 on the can scale'l pan to the level of or below the upper surface of plate 74. This is the position of the scalewhen the can is placed on the plate 74 and the prongs 89 are so depressed in order to allow the can to be slid to its proper position on theplate; that is, in order to allow the automatic feeding of the cans which will be hereinafter described. Cam 101 (Figs-22 and 33) is sharply inclined from b to c, then follows a horizontal interval from c to d. The fork 102 releases the scale beam when theA roller 100 moves from b to c. From c to d the empty can is weighed.

ilee/l-am'sm for weighing the empty can.-

A rod 106 extends through the perforation 107 (Fig. 9) in the knife edge block 84 on the under side of scale pan 80 and is threaded into the scale pan (Fig. 24). The rod passes through an opening 108 in the bottom of the annular member and pivotally supports the weight beam109 which, bevond this point of connection, carries the bifurcated can weight 110 (Figs. 17, 23 and 24). The beam 109 is pivotally supported on a bracket 111 bolted to the under side of plate 09 and is connected at the other end and 22). The weight is pushed out and back on beam 109 by means of a set screw 114 in a bracket 115 (Figs. 16 and 17) .which is carried on the end of a pair of rods 116 (Fig. 18) slidingthrough suitable bearing formed in the brackets 117 bolted to the under side of plate 69. Rigidly carried on the rods 116 is a block 118 supporting an anti-friction roller 119 which, in the first part of the circular travel of the can handling unit in question, comes into contact with the outer surface of an eccentrically placed cam 120 bolted to the upper surface of the stationary table 52 (Fig. 10). This causes the rods 116 to be 'forced outwardly.' The scale as a whole is so proportioned that with weight 110 at its initial inner position the side of the scale carrying the can, even plus the weight of the can, will not overbalancethe other side of the scale. rlherefore weight 110 which stands outwardly of set screw 114 is moved outwardly by the s'et screw so long as the weight does not overbalance this side of the scale. As soon, however, as the movement of weight 110 overbalances the scale the set screw rides over the weight without moving it, completing the movement enforced by its engagement with cam 120. No change is made 1n the position of the weight during the filling of the can which follows. When this has been completed roller 119 meets the inner surface of cam 121 (Fig. 10) which causes the rods to be moved into `their initial position. At this time the set screw stands outwardly of the weight 110 and as the scale is in balance the inward movement of the rods 116 pushes the weight 110 inwardly to its proper initial position, cam 121 being so placed on the table 52 as to accomplish this result. Before roller 119 leaves cam 121 the roller 100 has ridden up on the section a-J of cam 101 (Figs. 22 and 33) causing the fork 102 to engage with the scale beam 79 and tilt the same so as to depress the prongs 89 on scale pan 87 to or below the level of the can supporting plate 74. This movement also tilts beam 109 so that weight-'110 is disengaged from set screw 114 which, as rods 116 move inwardly, allows the set screw to pass over the weight to its initial position inwardly thereof. While prongs 89 are down the filled can is discharged from the machine by a mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

The counterpose for weighing the lqm'.I. The rods 95, described as carrying the forked member 102, which tilts scale beam 79, supporta weight 122 formed 'with the slotted arms 123 by means of which it is carried on a rod 124 projecting from the cap piece 97 (Figs. 17 and 22). lVlien roller 100 rides down the incline b-c on cam 101 to release the scale beam 79 the movement is not sufficient to bring weight 122 into contact with weight pan 91. The Weight, however, comes down upon the weight pan when roller reaches the bottom of the incline d-c on cam 101 (Fig. 33). It remains on the weight pan while the roller moves from e to f, this part of the cam ring being of uniform height. )From to L there is an upward inclination w ich raises the weight from the weight pan and brings the fork member 102 against beam 79 to tilt the latter, as above described. While the roller is passino' from e to f the can is filled first by the voume filling operation and 'afterward with enough liquid through the dribble port to make up the desired charge by weight. It is obvious that the weight might be lowered upon the scale at any time before the dribble port is opened.l l

The volume filling operation-The ring 76, which forms the bottom of the filling tank 77, is formed with a plurality of circular openings through which project the conical pivot members formed on plates 126 bolted to the under side of the ring 76 (Figs. 17, 25, 28 and 30). Each of these pivot members supports, revolubly, a filling vessel consisting of a conical base 127 a cylindrical part 128, and a conical part 129 terminating in the spindle 130. Preferably the pivot member 125 is formed on its upper end witha threaded stud 131 extending through an internal lange.132 on the base member 127. A spiral spring 133 is introduced between flange 132 and a `washer 134 bearing against the nuts 135 on stud 131. A portion of the pivot member 125 is cut away forming an opening 136 under a part of the base member 127 of the filling vessel, and the latter is pierced with ports 137, 137. )Vith 4the filling Vessel turned to bring port 137 over opening 136 the syrup in the filling tank 77 will flow into measuring vessel 128.

l To drum 66, forming a part of the ro:A

tat'ing frame Work of the machine, is secured a ring 138 supporting at its circumference a ring 139 (Figs. 2 and 5) formed with a plurality of brackets 140. These brackets' support the upper ends of the several measuring devices. Theconstruction of this part of the machine is shown particularly in Figs. 28 and 29. The spindle 130 is formed with the Wings 141 which project into slots 142 formed in the bore of a hub 143 formed with a shoulder 144 standing abovebracket upper part of the figure. The engagement of arm 146 with roller 148 revolves the measuring vessel 128 so as to bring port 1.37a into register with a port 149 through the pivot member 125 (Fig. 25). Plate 74 is 70 so placed that the can which it supports is directly under port 49. Assuming that the measuring vessel 128 is full, or partly full,

of syrup, with the parts in the position described the syrup will be discharged into 75 the can. Ports 137i and 149 remain in register until arm 147 meets a roller 150 which is supported on a bracket- 151 bolted to the ring 54. This engagement rocks the arms Y back to their original position, as indicated 80 by the dotted line positions of the arms at the right hand side of Fig. 5, and the measuring vessel is turned'so as to bring port 137 over the opening 136 in the pivot member 125 (Figs. 25 and 26). Liquid from 85 tank 77 will now flow up into the measuring` vessel 128. It will, of course, rise in each of the measuring vessels to the level of the liquid in the tank 77 in which these vessels stand. Therefore by maintaining an even level of syrup in tank 77 an accurate measurement of the volume charges, or at least.

one which is suliiciently accurate for all intents and purposes, results. Port 137 stands over the opening 136 untilthe arm ,146 again meets roller 148, in the manner above described.

The dribble and meclumsm for starting mi mtttz'ng it aj-The ivot member 125 is formed with va port 152 (Figs. 25, 27 and 100 30) extending from port 149 to the opening 136. Midway `of this port is a valve 153 formed with the port 154 adapted to register with the two sections of port 152. Valve 153 engaged by spring 153a has a stem 155 extendingA through a strip 156 bolted to the under side of plate 126 (Figs. 25, 27 and 28) and`is threaded into a hub 157 carrying the angularly disposed arms 158 and 159 (Fig. 8). Very shortly after the measuring-11o vessel is turned to close port 149 by the engagement of arm 147 with roller 150, arm 158 meets a roller 160 (Fig. 8) which is carried by an angular arm 161 pivoted at 162 to one of the uprights 53 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). 115 The other end of arm from that carrying the roller has a handle 163 and the arm is held either against pin 164 or pin 165 by a spring 166. With the arm bearing against pin 164 the roller 160 stands in the path of arm-158. 120 By engagement of arm 158 with roller 160 valve 153 is rocked so as to bring port 154 into alinement with port 152 and the syrup from tank 77 flows in a relatively small stream through ports 152, 154 and 149 into 125 the can. Roller 160 is arranged so that it may be moved out of the path of the arms 158 controlling the opening of the several dribble valves in order that the syrup may be prevented from wasting in case anything 1 3() goes wrong with the operation of the machine.

The closing of the dribble port is ellfected preferably by a vacuum mechanism actuated by the balancing of the scale. To the under side of plate 75 is secured a cylinder 167 (Figs. 2, 14 and 17) in which is a piston 168 having a rod 169 extending through the perforated head 170 of the cylinder and being connected by a link 171 with the arm 159 which has been described as rigid with the arm 158 which shifts the dribble valve. When thearm 158 meets the roller 160 and is rocked thereby to open the dribble valve, arm 159 .is rocked to a position which brings the piston 168 close to the head 170. The scale beam 79 carries a lug 172 to which is secured an arm 173 on which is a boss 174 (Fig. 21). The stem 175 of a valve 176 extends through boss 174. A spiral spring 177 is introduced between arm 173 and the valve. The stem 175 has the pin 178 which bears against boss 174. Valve 176 is adapted to close a port 179 (Figs. 14 and 20) in the end of cylinder 167 opposite the head 170. A port 180 leads from port 179 to the interior of a nipple 181 for the flexible tube 182. The tube 182 leads to an exhaust pump (not shown) by connections which will be hereinafter described. It will be seen that when the weight of the liquid in the can counter-balances weight 122 on weight pan 91, valve176 closes port 179. Before this the exhaust pump sucked air through port 179. W'ith this port closed the air is immediately exhausted from the cylinder '167 and the piston 168, which, by roller 160. was previously'drawn close to headl170, is now moved in the opposite direction. This shifts the dribble Valve 153 back to its original position closing tbe dribble port 152.

As the cylinders 167 rotate with the other operative parts of the machine it is necessary, if the exhaust pump is stationary "-to provide connections between the tubes 182 and the exhaust pump which will permit the tubes to be moved with the other rotary parts of the machine. A suitable arrangement is shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7. A ring 183 is supported by means of rods 184 from frame members 185 bolted to and extending across circular frame member 54. Ring 183 is formed with an arcuate groove 186 and with one or more recesses 187` extending back from this groove. Pipes 188 lead from the recesses 187 to the exhaust pump. Surrounding ring 183, the face of which is prcferbly beveled, is a ring 189 formed with a plurality of radial ports 190. Two of these are shown in Fig. 6. There will, of course, be one for each set of Weighing mechanisms. Ports 190 lead to nipples 191 tc which the upper ends of tubes 182 are connected. The groove 186 in the inner or stationary ring 183 is so placed that any given port 190 in the outer or'movable ring 189 comes opposite to it about the time the dribble valve of the mechanism concerned is opened. During the period that the port 190 is opposite groove 186 the exhaust pump is suckino' air through the corresponding tube 182. It is during this period that. valve 176 is closed by the balancing of the scale which causes the suction to operate on piston 168 and thereby close the dribble valve.

In case any accident'should happen to the machine it is desirable that means be at hand for shutting off the lnv of syrup through the dribble port and from the measuring vessels. Ve have already described the means whereby the roll 160 which opens the dribble port can be turned out of the path of the rocking arms operating the dribble valve. Preferably the roller 148 which opens the discharge ports from the measuring vessels is similarly mounted on the machine, s shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 11 and 12. An angular rock arm 192 provided with a crank 193 is mounted in keepers 194 on brackets 195 bolted to one of the cross frame members 185. The roller 148 is carried on the end of a rod 196 which extends through a bracket 197 bolted to frame member 185 and through a bracket 198 bolted to the under side of bracket 196. Rod 196 is connected with the end 0f the rock shaft 192 by a `link 199. A spring 200 is interposed between the roller 148'and the lower bracket 198. Pivoted to bracket 201` on the under side of ring 54 is a bent arm 202 to Awhich is pivoted a link 203 guided in a lug 204 on the bracket 197 and provided with a head 205 which, by pulling up on' the handle end1206of the bent arm 202 can be slid under the inner end of the rock shaft 192 when the latter is tilted. Roller 148 may thus be lifted and held out of the path of the rock arms which rotate the measuring vessels into their discharging posit-ions.

Mechanism `for feeding the caimvnto and discharging them from the machine--The central shaft 55 of the machine carries rigidly meshes with a gear wheel 209 Qn a shaft 210 mounted in a bearing 211 in the base membcr 50 and, at its upper end, in a bearing 212 on a bracket 213 bolted to the under side of the stationary table 52. AGear wheel 209 meshes with a gear 214 on a shaft 215 mounted, at its lower end, in a projecting part 216 of base member 50 and, at its upper end, in a bearing 217 on a bracket 218 secured to the under side of table 52. Gear 214 meshes with the gears 219 and 220 car` ried on shafts 221 and 222 respectively, mounted similarly to shaft 215. Supported by brackets 22.3l extending upwardly from table 52 is a can receiving and delivery table thereon the gear wheel 208 which 224 at the level of plates 74 (Figs. 2 and 17). Shaft. 222 extends through the table 224 and carries the star Wheels 225 (Figs. 1, 8, 15 and 17 The cans are fed upon table 224 against a guide 226 which is curved around the star Wheels 225 and extends part Way over the rotating part of the machine. Similarly shaft 221 extends through table 224 and is provided with the star Wheels 227, which rotate in the same direction as the wheels 225. The Wheels 227 operate against a guide 228 which likewise projects into the path of the cans. Guides 226 and 228 are bolted to the table 224.

The operation of the machine above described may be resumed as follows: The cans are fed upon table 224 against the guide 226 and are taken one by one by the star Wheels 225 and pushed upon the plates 74 above the several scale pans 87. At this time roller 100 of the particular unit-concerned is moved over the highpart 0,-?) of cam 101 so that the vfork member 102 holds the prongs 89 on the scale pan' out of the way of the can. Roller 100 then moves down the incline b-c, the scale beam is released and as the side of the scale carrying the can is lighter than the other side the prongs '89 raise the can from plate 74. Roller 11.9 now comes into contact with the cam 120 on table 52 and the Weight 110, which is designed to counterpoise the can, is pushed outwardly on the beam 109 until the lside of `the scale supporting the can is counterbalanced. Then set screw 114 rides over the top of Weight 110`in position to return the weight when the can has been filled. The Weighing of the empty can takes'place while roller 10() is passing from c to al on cam 101. Roller 100 now rides down the ineline d-e and, this 'places the weight for counterpoising the syrup upon the weight pan 91. Up to this time the measuring vessel for giving the can its volume fill has been standing with its port 137 over the opening 136 in pivot member 125 and is therefore filled with syrup to the level of the syrup 'in tank 77. Arm'146 now comes into contact with the roller 148 and is rocked so as to shift port 137 away from the opening 136 and port 137* into register with port 149. Communication between'the measuring vessel and the tank 77 is closed and the contents of the measuring vessel is discharged into the can. The arm 147, diametrically arranged with respect to arm 146, then meets the roller 150 and this turns the measuring vessel back to its original place covering port 149 and bringing the measuring vessel into communication with tank 77 through port 137 and the opening 136. The measuring vessel now fills in readiness for the can which will be fed into the machine during the neat cycle. T he' dribble port 132 is next opened bv the shifting of valve 153 which is brought about when arm 158 comes into contact with the roller 160. The same movement carries the piston 168 to the outer end of cylinder 167. About the same time the port 190 in ring 189 comes opposite the groove 186 in the stationary ring 183. Valve 176 stands away from port 179 at the end of the cylinder so that for the present the eX- haust pump is open to the atmosphere. As soon, however, as the weight of the liquid in the can, which is increased by the dribble, overbalances weight 122. port 179 is vclosed by valve 176. the air is exhausted from cylinder 167, piston 168 is'draxvn to the inner end of the cylinder and the dribble valve is turned to a position which closes the dribble port 152. The can is now filled with a quantity of the syrup which has been accurately measured by weight. The weighing takes place while roller 100 is moving from e to f on cam 101.l The roller then goes up the incline f-a and this brings the fork 'ineinber 102 into contact with scale beam 79 lowering the prongs 89 so that the can now stands again on plate 74. A further movement of the rotary part of the machine brings the can against' guide 228 at which point it is engaged by the star wheels 227 and moved across plate 74, ring 71, and the upper surface of the annular member 70 to the stationary table 224.

Vhile We have shown a preferred form of apparatus for carrying outthe invention it will be readily understood by those who are familiar with machinery of this general sort vthat modifications might be made in the forms, constructions and devices employed without departure from our invention; therefore ive do not limit ourselves to the particulars shown and described 'except so far as the same are Iliade specifically limitations on certain of the claims herein.

In certain of the claims the devices und mechanisms constituting the inventions` claimed are referred to as adapted for the handling of cans. It' is notI the intention. however, to limit the claims by the use of the term cans as it will be obvious that our machine mighr be employed for ytilling other species of receptacles. The machine is particularly intended for measuring and weighing liquids but it is possible that certain of the devices going to make up the complete machine in its preferred form might be used infilling operations in which granular, pulveruleut or other freely running solids were handled instead of liquids.

vWe claim:

1`. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a movab 5 support for a receptacle, of a scale which moves with said support and is provided with means. adapted to engage the receptacle, lift it from the support and sustain it duringthe weighing operation.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a .novable support for a receptacle, of a scale which moves with said support and is provided with means adapted to project through the said support, lift the receptacle from said support, and sustain it during the weighing operation. l

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a support. for a receptacle having a fiat surface over which the can may be slid, of a scale provided with means adapted tovproject through the said support, engage and lift the receptacle from said support, and sustain itduring the weighing operation, and means for automatically depressing said engaging means so that it does not interfere with the movement of the receptacle across said support.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a movable support for a receptacle, of a scale which moves with said support and is provided with means adapted to project through the said support, engage and lift the receptacle from said support, and sustain it during the weighing operation, means forautomatically depressing said engaging means so that it does notl interfere with the movement of the receptacle across said support, and means for feeding receptacles on said supportwhen said engaging means is so depressed.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the colnbination with a movable support for a receptacle, of a scale which moves with said support and is provided with means adapted to project through the said support, engage and lift the receptacle from said support, and sustain it during the weighing operation, means for automatically depressing said engaging means so that it does not interfere with the movement of the receptacle across said support, and means for removing the receptacles from said support when said engaging means is so depressed.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a movable support for a receptacle, of a scale which moves with said support nd is provided with means adapted to project through the said support, engage and lift the receptacle from-said support, and sustain it during the, weighing operation, means for automatically depressing said engaging means so that it does not intercfere with the movementl of the receptacle across said support. and means for discharging the filled receptacle from said support and for feeding an elnpty receptacle thereon while said engaging means is so depressed.

7. In apparatus of the character described, thevcombination with a support. for a rcceptacle, of a scale provided with means adapted to engage thc receptacle, lift it from said support, land sustain it during the weighing operation, means for moving said engaging means out of engaging position, and means for sliding the receptacle across said* support.

8.' In apparatus of the character described, the 'combination with a stationary table, of a movable support for a receptacle in the same` planetherewith, said support being formed with perforations, ay scale provided with means adapted to extend through said perforations, lift the receptacle from the supporting element and sustain it during the weighing operation. means for depressing said projecting means to thelevel of said support, and means for sliding the receptacle from the table to said support and vice versa while said projecting means is depressed.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a support for the reccptacles, the upper surface of which is fiat and which is formed with perforations, of a plurality of scales having scale pans provided with prongs extending through said perforations, and means for tilting said scales so as to depress said prongs below the upper surface of said support.

l0. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a rotary support for receptacles, formed with perfora tions, of a plurality of scales provided with prongs extending through said perforations, and means for tilting said scales so as to depress said prongs, comprising a circular cam track.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a rotary sup' port for receptacles, formed with perfora-- tions, of a plurality of scales provided with prongs extending through said perforations, means for tilt-ing said scales so as to depress said prongs, comprising a circular cam track, and means for feeding the receptacles. upon said support and discharging them therefrom while said prongs are depressed.

1Q. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a stationary table, of a rotary support in the same plane therewith, formed with perforations, a plurality of scales provided with prongs adapted to extend through said perforations, a device for each of said scales adapted to engage therewith and tilt the same so as to depress said prongs, a. circular cam track to operate said devices, and means for feeding receptacles from the table to said support and discharging the same from the support to the table while said prongs are depressed.

'l2-l. ln apparatus o't' the character de scribed. the combination with a movable support. of a scale on said support comprising a beam. a weight slidable on said beam, 

